Pregnant pause in Jim Clark Rally

THE excitement of the Jim Clark Rally was just too much for one spectator last night who went into labour as the cars sped past.

It forced a delay in the event after the first stage had been completed while an ambulance was called into the stage and whisked the Duns woman away to hospital.

Finnish driver Jarkko Nikara, with his brother Petri co-driving, was fastest in the first stage and looked well placed to take a lead in the international rally overnight after beating Irish pair Keith Cronin and Marshall Clarke, also in a Citroen DS3, by nearly two seconds around the 1.2-mile Duns stage.

The top seeds Mark Donnelly and Dai Roberts fell to seventh after the opening stage as their Renault Clio struggled to match the Citroens’ pace around the tight streets, with Callum Blark and Paul Wakeley roaring up from 12th to finish the first stage third in their Citroen.

The top Scot was Ruary MacLeod from Ayr who, with Marykirk’s Drew Sturrock, steered their Ford Fiesta R2 into 16th place after the first stage, having started 18th with two more Finns, Niko-Pekka Nieminen and Pasi Haataja, nearly two seconds behind. MacLeod and Sturrock were still nearly ten seconds off the leaders but, in a competitive field, they have their sights on several cars ahead.

The remainder of the rally run throughout today will be a different matter as various cars dominate the lengthier stretches and others head the field when the stages turn tight and twisty again, but the Nikara brothers are going to be hard to catch in this 42nd Jim Clark Rally.

John Indri from Colchester and his Newcastle co-driver, Janice Moore, left their mark on Duns in the National Rally with their easy-to-spot yellow Darrian T90.

The 800-kilo car was perfect for the market town’s twisty streets, and the Essex man finished the Friday night action delighted to be leading a very competitive field. “I don’t expect to be there when we reach the finish tomorrow,” he said, “But I came here hoping to grab the lead tonight and it’s fantastic to do it.

“The car is built for these kinds of stages. I drove a Metro 6R4 for 12 years, but it’s a very expensive hobby and it is great fun in the Darrian. We’re up against World Rally cars that can cost millions while I build this in my garage, so when the four-wheel drive boys get going tomorrow I’d expect to be left behind. But we brought some Cava up with us and it’s popping tonight so we’ll enjoy this lead while it lasts!”

The favourite for the National Rally, Melvyn Evans and fellow Welshman Aled Davies, were a surprising 11 seconds off the pace after the first stage but there was an explanation – a spin at the very first bend for their Subaru Impreza WRC.

Evans and Davies have won the last two National events, and by over a minute, so the pair were not too concerned.

Davies said: “It was a little surprise, and it took a good 15 seconds to get going again, which was quite embarrassing in the town with everyone watching and beginning to wonder if the next car was coming. But we’ll be back in it in the next stage and we’re looking forward to tomorrow. It just makes it a little interesting.”

There were thrills and spills aplenty with John Marshall of Dunblane and Forres navigator Phil Coulby forced into a quick switch before the rally even started. They damaged their Escort Mk2 in an accident on the morning practice and made a dash back north in time to collect an older Mk1 and return to Duns to join the Historic Rally.

Mull driver, Craig Rutherford, and Ross Hynd from Aberdeen also came off in the “shakedown” but are working overtime to repair their Honda Civic in time for tomorrow’s Reivers Rally.